Paperwork

Intro to DBS checks

DBS stands for Disclosure and Barring Service. It is a government service that checks your criminal record on behalf of employers. You will need a DBS check to work with children (eg. as a teacher or childminder) or vulnerable adults, such as those with cognitive disabilities or elderly people. Some other jobs also require a DBS check- an employer will tell you early in the recruitment process that they will need this. You are legally required to provide full and accurate information on the DBS form. For trans people, this includes your deadname. 

Luckily for us, there is a way of keeping this information from being shown to your employer or displayed on your certificate. This is known as the sensitive applications route. It means that, whilst you will still have to put your deadname in the ‘other names’ section of the form, the only people who will see this are those who need to, to check your history effectively. 

How to use the sensitive applications route

You will still complete the same form sent to you by your employer. However, before submitting your application you need to contact the sensitive applications team by email or phone (sensitive@dbs.gov.uk, 0300 106 1452). It is worth doing this as soon as you can, so your employment is not delayed by the process. They deal with each application individually, so will give you advice or ask for information based on your specific circumstances. After they have told you what to do, you then go ahead and submit the usual form with all your information (including previous legal names). 

Your DBS certificate won’t include your deadname, and your employer won’t need to know it or see it. It is entirely up to you whether you choose to use this route. If you have to provide a deed poll to your employer along with right-to-work documents (for example, if your passport still has your deadname on it) you might decide not to hide your deadname on your DBS certificate, as your employer will have seen it anyway. However- it is worth considering that you might have a new passport by the time you have a new job with a new employer, and if you have roles where you are signed up to the DBS update service (where your records are checked regularly) that it might be worth the extra effort for your future self.

Sources

• https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service/about
• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/transgender-applications 

By Caspar

Changing the name and gender on your passport is a big step in the social transition process for most trans people. It makes admin processes, access to employment, bank accounts, and other forms of identification easier. However, it is expensive. A new adult UK passport costs £88.50 when applying online.

For this reason, I would like to stress that it is possible to live in a new name for free. You need a deed poll, which you can make yourself. Using your deed poll, you can change your name on your driving license for free and be registered under the correct name at work and on official documents (such as tenancy agreements). The catch is, for employers and landlords, you will need to show your deed poll alongside your existing passport. Your deadname won’t be shared or used, but they will be able to see it.

A quick note on Gender Recognition Certificates: If you have a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) but not a passport, you can send this document alone to the passport office to get a new passport with the correct name and gender. However, the application process for a GRC is known for being very long and often very difficult. The vast majority of trans people in the UK don’t have a GRC, so the rest of this guide will be geared towards those people.

Aside from the cost, getting a new passport with the right name is a pretty straightforward process. The easiest (and cheapest) option is to apply online. You complete the online form and then post your documentation to the Passport Office. The documents you will need are as follows:

Doctor’s letter

The passport office needs ‘medical evidence’ of your trans status before they change the gender marker on your passport. Unfortunately, there isn’t yet a provision in the UK for nonbinary identities to be officially recognised in this way, so your passport can only say ‘M’ or ‘F’. The government guidance on this isn’t always made clear, but the doctor signing off that you’re trans does not need to be a gender specialist, so you can still get your gender marker changed if you are still on the waiting list for gender-affirming care, or don’t intend to medically transition. A letter from an NHS GP is fine, and shouldn’t be hard to get. The letter needs to state that your change in gender ‘is likely to be permanent’- it’s worth seeking this specific wording to prevent confusion or delays in your application.

Name change document

Usually, this will be a deed poll. The passport office accepts unenrolled deed polls, so this step is also free. The government-made template can be found at this link: Change your name by deed poll (Note: the deed poll wording used to be shorter, if you changed your name some time ago it’s worth checking the wording on your documentation is up to date).

Proof you’re using your name

As well as just changing your name, the passport office needs proof that you’re using and living in your name day-to-day. The government guidance recommends a payslip or utility bill in your correct name for this. If you have a new middle name as well, you will need documentation that uses your full name including your middle name. If you’re not sure, it’s worth sending more rather than less proof, to avoid any delays. For example, I have plenty of utility bills but none of them include my middle name. Because of this, I also sent the passport office a letter from my university that included my middle name. A tenancy agreement and any HMRC documentation would also usually serve this purpose.

Once you have completed your online application and gathered your documentation, you post it all to the passport office at the address they provide. They will contact you by phone if there are any issues with your application, so be alert for calls from unknown numbers, especially if you usually wouldn’t pick them up. It shouldn’t take longer than a month, and they’ll send you your new passport by post. Congratulations!

By Caspar